Folding table



(No Model.)

' J. & H. A. CARL.

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 493,479. I Patented Mar. 14, 1893..

Q lNVENTOHS A TTOHNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN CARL AND HIRAM A. CARL, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,479, dated March 14, 1893.

Application filed October 5, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that we, JOHN CARL and HIRAM A. CARL, both of Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Folding Table, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

Our invention relates to improvements in folding tables; and the object of ourinvention is to produce an extremely cheap and Simple table to which any kind of a table top may be applied, which may be extended when desired so as to form a long table or an ironing table, which also may be folded into a very small compass so as to make a neat and compact stand, and which, whether extended or folded is Very strong.

To these ends our invention consists in a folding table, the construction of which will be hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the table in extended position and provided with along top such as is suitable for ironing purposes. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the table with the top removed and with the stretcher partially folded. Fig. 3 is a broken perspective view of the table in its most compact form. Fig. 4 is a broken inverted plan showing in detail the means of fastening the table top in place; and Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the fastener for the stretcher arms.

The table is provided near opposite ends with the usual supporting cross legs 10 arranged in pairs, the legs of each pair being connected near the bottom by a cross brace 11, and at the top by a cross brace 12,the latter serving as a direct support for the table top. The legs have on their inner sides vertical bars 13 which extend downward from the top brace 12 to the lower brace 11, and to these bars, near the bottom, are hinged the stretcher arms 14, the arms being connected to the bars by hinges 15, the leaves of which are made long and strong, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The lower or outer ends of the arms let are thickened, as shown at 16, so as to form wide abutments to rest against the bars 13,

Serial No. 447,905. (No model.)

and the upper or inner ends of the arms 14 are also thickened, as shown at 16, so as to rest firmly together when placed end to end, and the inner ends of the arms are connected on the under side by a hinge 17.

By reference to Fig. 2,, it will be seen that the hinges 15 are on the upper sides of the arms and the hinge 17 on the lower, so that the arms may be readily folded upward but cannot drop below a horizontal position. The inner ends of the arms are fastened together when in a horizontal position, any suitable fastening device being employed, but the fastener shown in Figs. 1 and 5 is preferably used. This fastener comprises two face plates 18 which are secured to the inner upper portions of the arms 14, so that the edges of the plates abut and one plate is provided with a semi-cylindrical boss 19 and the other with a similar one 19. On the boss 19 is pivoted a latch 20 having a free end, and the latch swings horizontally and its bent end is adapted to engage the boss 19 and lock the ends of the arms together.

On one side of each bar 13 near the middle is pivoted a hanging brace 21, the free end of which is formed into ahook 22 which,when the stretcher arms 14 are straightened out in a horizontal position, is adapted to engage a stud 23 on the arms and thus brace the table. One of the bars 13 has also near the top and on one side, a second swinging brace 24 having a hook 25 at its end, and the length of the brace is such that when the table is in its most compact form, as shown in Fig. 3 with the arms 14 in a vertical position, the brace will extend across the arms and engage a stud 25 on the opposite bar 13, thus securely locking the opposite ends of the table together and preventing the table from spreading.

The table when extended is provided with a long top 26 which may be of any approved form; and when folded the table is adapted to be used as a stand and has a relatively small top 27, and this top is provided on the under side and near the ends with transverse cleats 28 which are adapted to fit closely against the outer sides of the cross braces 12, so that the table top cannot be moved endwise, and to prevent lifting and sliding of the top, buttons 29 are employed, these being pivoted on the cleats 28 so as to be turned beneath the cross braces 12, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The cleats and braces may be provided for the long top 26 if desired.

When the table is to be used to carry a long top, as shown in Fig. 1, the brace 2-1 is unhooked from the stud 25*, the top 27 removed, and the ends of the table pulled apart; this causes the stretchers 14 to extend in a horizontal direction, as shown in Fig. l, in which position they are fastened by the latch and boss 19, the stretcher and the table being also braced by the swinging braces 21 which are made to engage the studs 23. The long top 26 is then placed upon the tops of the legs and the table is ready for use. When it is to be folded into a stand, the top 26 is removed, the braces 21 unhooked from the studs 23, the latch 20 released, the inner ends of the arms 14 knocked up, as shown in Fig.2, the ends of the table pushed toward each other so as to swing the arms into a vertical position, the brace 24 is hooked upon the stud 25", and the top 27 secured in the manner already described. 1

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1 A folding table, comprising end legs havinghorizontal cross braces at the top and vertical strengthening bars extending downward from the cross braces, stretcher arms hinged together at their inner ends to fold upward. and having their outer ends hinged to the lower ends of the vertical bars to abut thereagainst when in a horizontal position, and a detachable top adapted to rest upon the cross braces of the legs, whereby provision is made for forming a long table or a compact stand, substantially as described.

2. A folding table, comprising oppositely arranged pairs of crossed legs, each pair being connected at the top and near the bottom by cross braces, and provided with vertical strengthening bars extending from-the top cross brace to the bottom one, stretcher arms hinged together at their inner ends to fold upward and having their outer ends hinged to the lower ends of the vertical bars to abut 5o thereagainst when in a horizontal position, means for locking the legs extended or folded, and a detachable table top adapted to rest upon the top cross brace, substantially as described.

3. A folding table, com prisingend cross legs having connecting cross bars at the top, vertical bars secured to the top cross bars and extending downward on the inner sides of the legs, stretcher arms hinged to the lower por- 6o tions of the vertical bars and hinged together at their inner ends, a fastening device to secure the inner ends of the stretcher arms together when said arms are in a horizontal position, swinging hook braces pivoted on the vertical bars and adapted to engage studs on the stretcher arms, a swinging hook brace pivoted to one of the vertical bars andadapted to engage a stud on the opposite barwhen the table is folded, and a detachable top for 7c the table, all substantiallyas described.

7 JOHN CARL.

HIRAM A. CARL.

Witnesses: v

E. L. BUOHMAN, HARRY W. KRESS. 

